SSCN Voumes 1-10, 1994-2004

St. Shenouda Coptic Newsletter

Trained volunteer guides: Trained volunteer guides from St. Mark’s congregation conduct tours throughout the year. Training has increasingly become more rigorous as our knowledge of Coptic art and architecture has deepened. The diverse background of visitors challenges us to respond wide range of interests and questions. Annual refresher sessions and regular email updates form part of the continued learning of guides. At the recent one-day retreat, for Museum Guides and the Board of Directors we agreed to meet quarterly to share new insights and expand their knowledge. Guides are also encouraged to carry out their own research and share the outcomes with the team. To enhance the service of guides, a resource manual has been developed. It is now in its third version since 1999. The Manual contains background information on the Coptic Church; information on each art form in the Museum; and St. Mark’s Church, its origin, and development; the spirituality and meaning of symbol(s) portrayed among other informative data. The Manual also includes stories of all the saints and martyrs portrayed in icons in St Mark’s Church and the Museum. The main emphasis of Guides’ training is s follows: - To present the Museum as a reflection of our history as Copts in Egypt and abroad; - To provide background information to answer questions about the Coptic Church; - To identify our roots in ancient Egypt and the influence of ancient Egyptian art and architecture, symbols as these were Christianised;

- To provide technical and historical background information on each art form; - to share stories about specific items - how they came to the Museum, about the previous owners, and about the artists, etc. What is in the Museum?  Amulets, jewellery and coins from ancient Egypt, Ptolemic, Byzantine, Persian, Roman and Islamic periods. These exhibits provide the opportunity to locate the Copts and Coptic art historically;  icons (from the 15 th to 20 th centuries);  paintings (19 th and mid 20 th centuries);  illuminated manuscripts (15 th -18 th centuries) & books;  papyrus fragments (3 rd -5 th centuries);  textile fragments (5 th -7 th centuries);  wood work (7 th - 18 th centuries);  Coptic crosses of varying styles and materials;  pottery, ceramics and enamel (6 th -21 st centuries);  Items related to our history in Canada ;  Ethiopian Orthodox items: - illuminated manuscript on deerskin (16 th century) - silver and hand-carved wood altar crosses (6 th & 18 th century); - hand-carved wood & icon diptych: cross and book stand (17 th and early 20 th centuries). Coptic folkloric art of Ms Marguerite Nakhla: The uniqueness of the Museum is that it is the only Museum in the world that exhibits six of the fourteen Coptic folkloric paintings by the world- renowned Egyptian artist Ms. Marguerite Nakhla. Ms Nakhla’s eight other paintings have been sold or donated to private collections. Initiated in the 3 rd century, this art form died in the 12 th century. Ms. Nakhla revived it in the mid 20 th century. The Museum is therefore a place where Coptic folkloric art may be studied. The largest of Ms. Nakhla’s paintings measure 154

St. Shenouda Coptic Newsletter - To indicate how Coptic art and architecture adapted to the dominant cultures and yet maintained its uniqueness, as well as, how it influenced other cultures and traditions;

- To explain the spirituality and symbolism in Coptic architecture and particularly of St. Marks’ Church, as well as icons and art objects in the Church and the Museum;

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